Practice Swing Bat and Method

ABSTRACT

A balanced weighted practice bat system is provided which employs a device which is configurable to be weighted heavier and lighter than a game bat of a player in a method for batter practice. Employment of a heavier practice bat, a lighter practice bat, and a practice bat substantially equal to a batter&#39;s game bat during swinging practice provides a system to improve batting performance during a game.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/893076 filed on Oct. 18, 2013, and included herein in its entirety by this reference hereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present device relates to a bat for practicing a player's swing and a method of employing a plurality of such bats in differing configurations for practice. More particularly, the disclosed device and method refers to a weighted practice bat system and configuration which incorporates, or can accept, weighted accessories to increase the mass of the bat. In this configuration, the system substantially maintains the conventional bat's original weight balance so as not to impart improper muscle memory to a practicing batter. By employing the device and method herein, a user or batter may prepare and practice for play and develop his muscles for a more powerful swing. Additionally, using the method herein, a user may develop accurate muscle memory as to bat balance required to accurately and effectively maneuver the bat during a game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the sport of baseball, the pitcher on an opposing team, occupying the field, hurls the baseball towards the batter who occupies a batter's box adjacent to home plate. The batter, viewing the oncoming ball, attempts to calculate its path and then attempts to hit the baseball with a bat as it crosses close to the batter's box and over home plate.

If the batter's aim during body rotation with the bat is accurate and the ball is struck into the field of play, the batter can advance toward the first base from the batter's box. The batter, thereafter, progresses towards scoring on behalf of his or her team should the baseball not be caught by a member of the opposing team before it touches the ground, and the batter is able to run to base before the defensive team can deliver the ball to that base. Subsequent batters have the same task in attempting to hit the pitched ball and then advancing on the bases. Alternatively, the batter can score one to four runs for his team if he is able to strike the ball sufficiently solid to propel the baseball beyond the boundaries of the baseball field of play scoreing a “home run.”

In such a pitcher and batter duel which occurs with each batter, the pitcher generally has the upper hand over the batter at each pitch, because only the pitcher who knows what type of pitch will be thrown. The batter on the other hand, must delay slightly in making a swinging decision until the batter has surveyed the oncoming path of the ball and discerned if it is hittable and, if it is, its likely route. If the pitched ball is determined hittable, the batter must then quickly accelerate the bat from a stationary cocked position at the rear of his body to a forward position to hit the ball.

The ability for batters to make a quick decision on the ball path, and subsequently swing at a ball traveling seventy miles an hour or more, and hit the ball with authority, takes much practice. Many thousands of practice swings are taken to help a batter develop muscle memory as to swinging the bat so that when the time comes for an instant decision, the batter's swing is instinctive.

Baseball bats are typically built of solid wood, hollow aluminum, or composite and generally include three segments. The segments consist generally of projecting knob portion at the bottom of the bat that prevents the bat from slipping from a batter's hands as he swings the bat and centrifugal forces pull the bat through his hands, the bat's handle where the batter grips portion which is adjacent to the projecting knob, and the bat's barrel shaped top end which is formed by a gradual increase in the diameter of the bat from the narrow handle end, adjacent the projecting knob to, its opposite barrel portion end. It is this larger and stouter barrel portion contains the surface with which a batter tries to contact the oncoming baseball.

In search of an edge during competition, amateur and professional baseball players have always sought ways to exercise their swinging motion, thereby increasing their rotational speed, power, and bat positioning accuracy during their swing at their calculated position of the observed oncoming ball. The faster the swing and the larger portion of the barrel of the bat which contacts the ball, the more yield in power when hitting the pitched ball. Due to the foregoing, players continually seek methods and devices which allow them to practice swinging and especially to warm up the players muscles just prior to going to bat.

In the body, there are fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers an athlete may call upon. Both types contribute to overall athletic performance.

Slow-twitch fibers, also known as type I, red, or slow oxidative fibers, are designed to sustain slow but long-lived muscular contractions and are able to function for long periods on aerobic energy.

During conventional batting activity in which a player is utilizing a game bat on a consistent basis, his body employs only slow twitch muscle fibers to swing. This is because the weight of the conventionally used game bat does not force the hitters body to utilize fast twitch muscle fibers.

During conventional batting activity, in which a player is conventionally utilizing a game bat on a consistent basis, his body only employs slow twitch muscle fibers to swing. This is because the weight of the conventionally used game bat does not force the hitter's body to utilize fast twitch muscles.

With regard to fast-twitch muscle fibers, two basic types of fast-twitch fibre muscle fibers are generally recognized as important. Type IIa, also known as ‘intermediate’ fast-twitch fibers or ‘fast oxidative glycotic’ (FOG) fibers, are considered important to peak performance, because of their ability to display, when exposed to the relevant training stimuli, a relatively high capacity to contract under conditions of aerobic or anaerobic energy production. Type IIb muscle fibers are essentially ‘turbo-chargers’ of the muscles. These muscle fibers are activated when a high performance boost is needed. These are also known as ‘fast glycogenolytic’ (FG) fibers, since they rely almost exclusively on the short-term alactic/glycotic energy system to activate them.

Such fast-twitch muscles are employed for short, explosive bursts of energy, with maximum power and speed. However, the fast-twitch muscles fatigue much quicker than slow twitch muscles (those used for day to day activities, all the way up to distance running). For that reason, it is important to condition fast-twitch muscles, as well as other muscles, with repetition in order to build endurance for multiple swings.

Unlike conventional batting practice which simply employs a game bat and weights, and which, as noted, does not provide exercise targeted at fast-twitch muscle fibers, the device and method herein, when employed as directed, targets Type IIa and Type IIb fast twitch-muscle fibers to build that endurance. By doing so, with the device and method herein, the player is provided with the ability to call upon such fast-twitch muscles fibers when swinging a bat to hit a ball.

In addition, when used regularly for practice swinging, it is thought that weighted bats may also strengthen the muscles of the forearms and wrists. This is because it is those muscles which must maintain the weighted barrel end, at the proper angle extending from the batter's hands, during a swing. This increased strength has been thought to help a batter maintain the lighter bat at the correct angle during a swing, especially when the batter attempts numerous swings and may become fatigued.

Consequently, because baseballs are pitched to the batter at high speed, and a batter calculating the ball path while oncoming, limits the batter's reaction time to swing, players must rely on an instinctive swing to both accelerate the bat and to properly locate it in a horizontally disposed position, to strike an oncoming ball with maximum bat area and force. Thus, conventionally, batters find it advantageous to reinforce their muscle memory through preparatory practice swings, especially with weighted bats to strengthen their muscles and help acceleration, even though as noted, such does not prepare fast-twitch muscle fibers properly.

Dedicated practice bats, such as those presented by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,843 and 5,277,421, have been developed to allow the player to practice with a broad range of bat weights by adding more or less weight to the bat's tip or barrel end to develop the associated muscle groups. However, such conventional weighted bat accessories, such as the ones taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,050,877 and 6,010,415, allow the player to attach only one weight to a bat's barrel.

Most prior art customs and solutions, however, invariably alter a bat's center of mass and its mass balance about the bat's handle end and have a down side. Using such an out of balance exercise, while popular, tends to cause the batter to employ a different batting position to compensate for the overweight barrel end and the out of balance bat, than the batter normally employs during a swing with his normal, more balanced, lighter bat. Thus, the muscle memory learned by warming up or practicing, using conventional unbalanced weighted bats can cause a player's subsequent muscle memory to hinder the player's ability to obtain an accurate stance in order to subsequently accurately maneuver an unweighted playing bat. The player will tend to “remember” the previously employed heavier barrel end and, during a subsequent swing with a lighter bat, the player will over compensate for the now unweighted end of the lighter bat, and raise the barrel end too high to hit a pitch during the instinctive move of swinging at a pitch.

As such, there is an unmet need for a properly weighted practice bat system and method of employment for practice which is configured to not only exercise slow-twitch muscle fibers of batters, but which also provides repetition and exercise necessary to impart endurance and availability to the fast-twitch muscle fibers of batters. Such a device and system should allow the player to employ sequentially weighted bats to develop all types of muscles employed in batting and muscle memory in practice, and to stimulate their neural system. Such should increase the batter's ability for slow and fast twitch muscle activation and swing balance prior to batting. Such a system should endeavor to also maintain the balance of knob end to barrel end of the bat employed. Such a practice bat and method therefor should employ decreased and/or increased mass concentrations both above and below the bat's handle which can be employed in a sequence to exercise and provide repeatability and to also concurrently endeavor to accurately mimic a game bat's swing balance. Such baseball, softball, or t-ball bats, therefor, should be developed so as to closely mimic or adhere to the shapes and sizes and balance of various game bats for adults, children, men and women.

The forgoing examples of related art, and limitation related therewith, are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the specification below and the accompanying drawings.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to allow a baseball player to develop his or her batting abilities through the provision of an axially balanced practice bat.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide means for swinging practice with a bat which is heavier than a game bat, but that has the same center of mass as the game bat.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bat of solid uniform material with mass concentrations above and below the player's grip, while leaving the bat's handle unmodified and unconstrained.

It is an additional object of this invention to develop a means to affix additional weight to positions on a game bat to maintain a natural balance thereof and provide additional resistance to swinging the bat.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of sequentially employing differently weighted and balanced bats for practice sessions to thereby provide repetition and exercise which will aid in the employment of both slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscle fibers during game batting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a means and method for improving batting power and accuracy, through a weighted practice bat whose balance mimics that of a game bat, to form proper muscle memory.

The disclosed device and method herein, employing strategically placed mass concentrations on bats, in sequential sequences, endeavors to maintain the bat's natural swing balance, in differently weighted sequentially employed bats, to provided exercise to slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscle fibers, while maintaining the bat balance and the player's natural swing.

To better mimic game swinging conditions, the barrel of the lighter or heavier practice bats should have a diameter consistent with legal play bats and may range from 2 to 3 inches depending on the intended player's age and division. The barrel length of the practice bat should also mimic legal play bats and may range from 10 to 15 inches. The handle should also closely replicate the player's game bat with a diameter and length ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches and 4 to 8 inches, respectively. The bat may be composed of, but is not limited to, one, or a combination of, various hard woods, durable plastics, aluminum, steel, or carbon fiber. They may also include textured wrapping or overlay to increase the handle's grip.

In a primary mode of the device, a homogeneous bat may be lightened or weighted at two strategic locations. In the heavier mode, the bat's knob is thickened and extended to add weight below the players hands, and a bulge is placed between the handle and the barrel to add mass above the players hands. The proportion of mass added above and below the handle must maintain and be consistent with the bat's original weight distribution about the handle to maintain the bat's swinging balance. If lightened bats are employed, the reduction in weight must also be balanced to maintain swing balance of the bat.

In one preferred form, the weight added above the handle and to the knob are a percentage increase above the normal bat weight such as 2-10 ounces. Many other weight balance modes and proportions can exist to mimic bats of different sizes and weight distributions, including, but not limited to, softball bats, cricket bats, or youth bats. Additional modes can employ lightening of the bat in a manner to maintain swing balance or in some cases, to correct swing problems, intentional bat unbalance, to focus on the development of particular muscles, or to overcorrect for batting technique errors.

In a second preferred mode adapted for existing bats, fastening features are engaged in the bat above and below the handle to allow users to increase or decrease the bat's weight. Such fastening features can be included with bats whose nominal weight is equal to or greater than the player's game bat. The weights can attach to the bat by any mechanical fastener, including, but not limited to, screws, bolts, ties, clamps, and dovetails. The weights may be composed of one or more of, but is not limited to, the following materials: wood, metal, plastic, carbon fiber. Any attachable weight must be solid, and be designed to maintain the bat's weight symmetry about its length axis, to not disrupt it's moment of inertia. Such a device would allow the player to gradually increase the weight of the bat as his muscle develop, and to stimulate the forces required to propel a ball pitched at a variety of speeds.

In another mode, weighted bat accessories could be designed to attach to any game bat. A pair of weights would adhere to the knob and upper handle of a bat through any fastener, including, but not limited to, clamps, straps or force fits. A preferred implementation of this mode would include pairs of cylindrical weights which are composed of any of the materials which increase the mass or weight at the respective positions on the bat and which clasp around the bat both below and above the handle portion employed for gripping during use in a manner to substantially maintain the conventional unweighted balance of the bat when gripped by a batter in an as-used position.

The weights may contain a contact lining of soft plastic or leather to protect the shape and surface of the player's bat if used with the paired weights. This configuration implements the batter's game bat, which has a grip diameter and coefficient of friction which are inherently unique and familiar to the player and which may be preferable.

In a particularly preferred method of providing batting practice, using the balanced weighted device herein, three bats will be employed. A first bat is employed is weighted to be heavier than the normal bat employed by the batter, and concurrently maintain proper swing balance as an un weighted bat by using the noted paired weights on both ends. In a second step, a second bat is sequentially employed which is formed to be under the weight of a game bat used by that player, but configured to maintain the balance of a game bat when the user grips it in the as-used position. Finally, sequentially a third bat is employed in the practice session which is of the weight, size and balance of a game bat normally employed by the batter during a game. This over-under and then normal weight system has been employed with particularly good results for both power and accuracy of hitting by batters and is a particularly preferred mode of employment of the device herein as a method.

In the system, the heavier bat may be between 5 to 40 percent heavier than the weight of the batter's normal game bat with the engaged weights on the distal and proximal end maintaining substantially the same balance when gripped. the lighter bat may be weighted to be between 5 and 40 percent lighter than the batter's normal game bat. A particularly preferred range which in testing has yielded excellent results for most batters, is to weight the heavier bat between 5 and 30 percent heavier than the chosen game bat of a player, and to weight the lighter bat in the sequence 5 to 30 percent lighter than the normal weight bat employed by a player. Conventional bats range for instance between 30 to 36 ounces so the weighting of the overweight and underweight bats would be between 1 to 10 ounces using the 5 to 30 percent scale. Ideally the two weights engaged to the bat in a manner to maintain the balance of the weighted mode of the bat, although some batters may prefer the distal end to be over weight to train the hitter to swing through their hit. The paired weights for both the overweight practice bat, and the underweight practice bat can be provided in a kit of weights which paired, maintain the balance, and provide the appropriate increase or decreased weight of the balanced practice bat. While a kit is not shown, the weights as shown in FIG. 4, could be provided in pluralities of pairs of such weights and those skilled in the art can easily ascertain what a kit of a plurality of such pairs would contain.

The batter using the system will first employ the heavier weighted bat for a plurality of practice swings between 2 and 50 depending on the batter and their age and ability. In the second step, the batter will employ the lighter bat, for a plurality of swings between 2 and 50 again depending on the batter. Finally the batter can use a bat substantially that of their normal weight bat.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The device herein described and disclosed in the various modes and combinations is also capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Any such alternative configuration as would occur to those skilled in the art is considered within the scope of this patent. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other balanced weighted practice baseball bats for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only nor exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed device. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts the hands and forearms of a baseball player in an operative position with bat device herein in hand and in an as-used practice swing position.

FIG. 2 displays a mode of the device herein having integrated bat weights on opposing sides of the gripping surface of the bat weighted to maintain the natural balance of an unweighted bat.

FIG. 3 depicts a mode of the device and method herein wherein removably engageable weights can be affixed to a practice bat.

FIG. 4 depicts a mode of the device herein employable for the method herein wherein paired weights are adapted to attach adjacent opposite ends of the gripping area and which could come in a kit featuring a plurality of pairs of such weights.

FIG. 5 depicts a method for batting practice employing the device and method herein wherein the normal bat for a batter is over and under weighted prior to a third step at the normal weight.

FIG. 6 depicts a lightened bat having axial cavities filled with material of lighter mass than that of a conventional bat and which may be employed for the underweight mode of the system with or without engaged weights to reach the desired underweight or overweight configuration.

FIG. 7 depicts a mode of determining the balance of a player's bat for example by positioning it to assume a level communication against a fulcrum at a balance point between the barrel and gripping end which may later be employed to add opposing weights to maintain the same balance point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-7, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1, a bat device 10 of the disclosed system configured with supplemental annular mass concentrations 12, 14, which are positioned and weighted to maintain the natural balance of the normal weight bat of the user as for example in FIG. 7. The amount of weight communicated to the device 10 by each annular mass concentration is provided in a fashion preferably to maintain the bat's natural balance about the player's hands 16 at the conventional gripping area 23 shown with the hands gripping the bat device 10, and help maintain the perceived balance of the batter's natural swing and the learned muscle memory with that balance. As noted, different muscles in the arms are used to maintain the elevation of the barrel 21 at the distal end of the bat device 10 at the opposite end from the gripping area 23 held by the hands of the batter in FIG. 1, so it is important to maintain this balance when the underweight and overweight bat devices 10 are employed so the muscle memory and swing of the batter is not thrown out of kilter.

The barrel 21 of the bat device 10, should have a diameter from 2 to 3 inches depending on the intended player's age and the size of the legal bats in their baseball division consistent. The barrel 21 of the device 10 should also mimic conventional game-approved bats and may range from 15 to 20 inches in length extending from the gripping area 23. The device's 10 handle or gripping area 23, should also replicate standard game bats with a diameter from 0.75 to 1.25 inches and a length between 8 to 10 inches.

In one preferred mode, the device 10 is a unitary structure, per FIG. 2, with strategically placed annular lower and upper mass additions 18, and 20, located at the bat's knob 25 (FIG. 3) and between the handle or gripping area 23 and the barrel 21 respectively.

In all modes of the device 10 and system herein, the weight added to the bat device 10 at the annular lower mass 18 can range from 1 to 10 oz, and the weight added at the annular upper mass 20 can range from 1 to 10 oz. Where the proportion of mass added both above and below the handle or gripping area 23, is calculated and engaged on both sides to maintain the balance shown in FIG. 7 and provides a means to maintain the balance of the bat device 10 or player's bat if weighted, in a fashion consistent with a game bat's original weight distribution about the handle or gripping area 23 such that the same amount of force from the user's hands and arm muscles is used to maintain the elevation of the barrel 21 during their swing.

In one particularly preferred mode of the system and device herein and as shown for instance in FIG. 2, the weight or mass added in the annular upper mass 20, above the handle or gripping area 23, is preferably twice the weight of the annular lower mass 18 shown added about the knob 25 end. Other proportions or ratios between the weight of the upper and lower masses 18, 20, or 12 and 14, can be employed to mimic bats of different sizes and weight distributions, including, but not limited to, softball bats, cricket bats, or youth bats, and to maintain a determined balance point of the batter's normally used bat such as in the fashion noted in FIG. 7. In all modes, the weight added on both sides of the gripping area is calculated to maintain the balance of the bat and, due to the fulcrum effect of spacing the weights on either side of the gripping area 23, the opposing weight on each side of the gripping area may be different, if needed, from the noted favored two to one ration. Consequently, the appropriate weight added to each side of the gripping area 23 may fall in a range of between one to four in ratio, with the current substantially two to one ratio noted above as a current favorite.

In some modes of training, additional weight distribution modes can employ intentional bat unbalance, to focus on the development of particular muscles, or to overcorrect for batting technique errors. The correct weights of the annular upper mass 12 and lower mass 18 to maintain the balance of the user's normal bat device 10 can be determined by finding a balance point 31 between the barrel 21 and gripping area 23 where the user's normal bat will balance on a finger or other fulcrum 33. The same balance point 31 can be determined as a measurement from one end of the bat device 10 employed herein in the over-under training, and weights employed can be adapted to maintain that balance point.

The bat devices 10 can be custom made for individual batters based on such calculations, or using the removably engageable weights, can be determined for each batter to use them and the two weights engaged at respective weights to maintain the determined balance point for a determined batter. The removably engageable weights, shown herein, can come in sets thereof wherein first and second pairs of said weights are provided in a plurality of differing weights, and formed for removable engagement to the user's bat, or a practice bat provided as a kit. Alternatively, the balance feel can be estimated by the user or coach and the weights engaged to the bat devices 10 for the over-under training.

Subsequent to determining the balance point, if engageable weights are employed to a bat device 10 such as in FIG. 4, or if a set of bat devices 10 of differing weights are configured, the upper mass 12 and lower mass 18 added can be engaged in a fashion to maintain the bat device 10 balanced at the determined point between the gripping area 23 and distal end of the barrel 21 for the batter employing the system.

FIG. 3 displays another preferred mode of the device 10 employed by the method herein, wherein weights 24 and 22 are imbedded in the bat above and below the handle or gripping area 23, respectively. Attachable weights 26 and 28 can also attach to the bat device 10, by means of any mechanical fastener, such as hinged engagement and locking screws, bolts, ties, clamps, and dovetails. The attachable weights 26 and 28 should be annular and adapted to maintain the device's 10 weight symmetry about its major length axis, to not disrupt its moment of inertia. This mode allows the player 16 to replace the attachable weights 26 and 28 with ones of greater mass as his muscles develop, and to stimulate the forces required to propel a ball pitched at a variety of speeds.

Another preferred mode of the bat device 10 herein is depicted in FIG. 4, wherein a first bat weight 30 is adapted to engage over the knob and a second annular weight 32 can attach between the gripping area 23 and barrel 21. This mode can be employed with any conventional game bat 34. In the mode shown, the separate bat weights 30 and 32 are formed as two hinged annular masses which affix around a bat 34. In this mode, if the over-under method is employed, the bat 34 provided for practice in the system herein may be one calculated to be lighter than that normally used by the practicing batter.

In other modes, the weights 30 and 32 can attach to the bat 34 at the specified positions below and above the player's hands 16 in the gripping area 23, using any removable means for engagement, such as hinged, sliding, wrapping, glueing, or a force fit. This configuration implements a game bat 34, with a diameter and coefficient of friction which are inherently unique, and may be preferred by players as a familiar “feel” and balance when gripping the bat employed.

FIG. 5 depicts the system herein employing weighted and lightened bats 11 as shown in FIG. 6. The directions may be provided in print but are preferably provided in a video format such as DVD.

In the method of providing batting practice, three bat devices 10 will be employed and are provided, or are provided by employing removable weights on a conventional bat which, for the lighter portion of the system, may be one chosen which is slightly lighter than the player's normal game bat.

In the method, the player is provided a heavier first bat which is weighted to be heavier than his normal game bat, but ideally should maintain the proper swing-balance or required force to maintain the barrel elevated, as would occur in the player's normal game bat or unweighted bat. However, it may be weighted on the distal end where the batter is practicing swinging through a perceived hit for a plurality of practice swings.

In a next step, a second bat device 10 is provided the batter, which is a practice bat configured under-weight from the weight of the players conventional game bat but, again, weighted with the preferable balance using opposing weights in the proper ratio on both sides of a gripping area 23. This second bat is employed sequentially for a plurality of swings by the batter after the first, to practice acceleration for the plurality of swings.

In a third step, a third bat configuration is provided the batter for practice which is substantially that of the weight, size, and balance of the player's conventional game bat to be employed for a plurality of practice swings. This game bat can be employed thereafter with excellent results due to the previous over-under practice swings.

In the system herein, the heavier bat may be configured between 5 to 40 percent heavier than the weight of the batter's normally employed game bat. The lighter bat may be between 5 and 40 percent lighter than the weight of the batter's normal game bat. A particularly preferred range is between 15 and 30 percent difference for both the heavier practice bat and lighter practice bat.

It is particularly preferred that the heavier bat may be balanced using the noted opposing positions for the weights, if balance muscle memory is desired, or it may be end loaded toward the distal end of the practice bat opposite the gripping area, to train the hitter to swing through his hit. The lighter bat may be drilled axially and have no or a light weight material positioned in cavities 29 therein, such as in FIG. 6, on one or both ends if to be balanced for swing, or the batter may be provided with a bat otherwise configured lighter than their normal bat. While the balanced bat mode is preferred, it has been found in experimentation that significant batting improvement is also gained by batters simply employing the overweight and underweight system, with practice bats which may not be balanced by opposing weights or weight reduction.

The batter using the system will first employ the heavier configured practice bat for a plurality of practice swings between 2 and 50 depending on the batter and his age and ability. In the second step, the batter will employ the lighter configured practice bat for a plurality of swings between 2 and 50, again depending on the batter. This second step helps the batter practice and his muscles memorize and achieve an increase in swing velocity, as well as how to maintain a proper swing and improved accuracy in hand to eye coordination when doing so. Finally, the batter can use a practice bat or his normal weight game bat for a plurality of between 2 to 50 swings.

Ideally, all three bats are provided in a kit, with the overweight, underweight, and a normal game weight game bat, but it can be provided with the overweight, and underweight bats, and allow the batter to employ his normal game bat for the third step in the system or method. Finally, the system can be provided by providing an underweight practice bat and using weights on the player's normal game bat, and providing instructions on how to weight and balance it for each batter.

The weight of the bats is generally calculated by using the player's normal bat as a baseline, and adding and subtracting weight to achieve the amount of an overweight and that of an underweight bat, while endeavoring concurrently to maintain the determined balance point such as determined in FIG. 7 and carrying that point over to all the practice bats which are weighted to balance accordingly. However, as noted, significant enhancement of batting ability has been found in experimentation of using the over game weight, under game weight, and game bat in the sequence of practice swings noted.

As noted, any of the different configurations and components can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and steps in the method of production, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, or steps in formation of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations, and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

Further, the purpose of any abstract of this specification is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art, who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Any such abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of practicing batting, comprising the steps of: determining a game weight of a game baseball bat employed by a batter for batting the ball during baseball games; providing said batter a first practice bat which is configured at a heavier weight than said game weight; having said batter perform one or a plurality of practice swings with said first practice bat; providing said batter a second practice bat which is configured with a lighter weight than said game weight; having said batter perform one or a plurality of practice swings with said second practice bat; providing said batter a third practice bat having a weight substantially equal to said game weight; and having said batter perform one or a plurality of practice swings with said third practice bat.
 2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising: ascertaining a balance point between a first end and a second end of said game baseball bat employed by said batter during said baseball games; providing said first practice bat with said same balance point thereof as said game baseball bat; providing said second practice bat with said same balance point thereof as said game baseball bat; and providing said third practice bat with said same balance point thereof as said game baseball bat.
 3. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising: instructing said batter to perform between 2 and 50 said practice swings with said first practice bat; instructing said batter to perform between 2 and 50 said practice swings with said second practice bat; and instructing said batter to perform between 2 and 50 said practice swings with said third practice bat.
 4. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising: instructing said batter to perform between 2 and 50 said practice swings with said first practice bat; instructing said batter to perform between 2 and 50 said practice swings with said second practice bat; and instructing said batter to perform between 2 and 50 said practice swings with said third practice bat.
 5. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising: providing said first bat having said heavier weight, which is between 5 to 50 percent heavier than said game weight; and providing said second bat having said lighter weight, which is between 5 to 50 percent lighter than said game weight.
 6. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising: providing said first bat having said heavier weight which is between 5 to 50 percent heavier than said game weight; and providing said second bat having said lighter weight which is between 5 to 50 percent lighter than said game weight.
 7. The method of claim 3 additionally comprising: providing said first bat having said heavier weight which is between 5 to 50 percent heavier than said game weight; and providing said second bat having said lighter weight which is between 5 to 50 percent lighter than said game weight.
 8. The method of claim 4 additionally comprising: providing said first bat having said heavier weight which is between 5 to 50 percent heavier than said game weight; and providing said second bat having said lighter weight which is between 5 to 50 percent lighter than said game weight.
 9. A practice bat set employable in the method of claim 1, comprising: a first practice bat having a first weight which is heavier than a determined weight of a player's game bat; a second practice bat having a second weight which is lighter than said determined weight of said player's game bat; a third practice bat having a third weight which is substantially equal to said determined weight of said player's game bat; and said first practice bat and said second practice bat both being formed as unitary structures.
 10. A practice bat set comprising: a first pair of annular removably engageable weights, said first pair of weights engageable to a practice bat in a first configuration, said first configuration having a first weight which is heavier than a determined weight of a player's game bat; and a second pair of annular removably engageable weights, said second pair of weights engageable to said practice bat in a second configuration thereof, said second configuration having a second weight which is lighter than said determined weight of a player's game bat.
 11. The practice bat set of claim 10, additionally comprising: said practice bat set including a plurality of said first pairs of removably engageable weights; and said practice bat set including a plurality of said second pairs of removably engageable weights, whereby said player may ascertain said determined weight of said player's bat and choose any from both said plurality of said first pairs of removably engageable weights, and said plurality of second pairs of removably engageable weights, to sequentially engage to a said practice bat.
 12. The practice bat set of claim 10 additionally comprising: said first pair of said removably engageable weights being configured for a removable paired engagement on opposing sides of a gripping area of said practice bat; said first pair of said removably engageable weights having a total weight combined between 1 to 10 ounces; and said paired engagement maintaining a predetermined balance point of said practice bat between a first end and second end of said practice bat.
 13. The practice bat set of claim 12 additionally comprising: said second pair of said removably engageable weights being configured for a removable said paired engagement on said opposing sides of said gripping area of said practice bat; said second pair of said removably engageable weights having a total weight combined between 1 to 10 ounces; and said paired engagement of said second pair of removably engageable weights rendering said practice bat to a weight less than said determined weight. 